2014 marks my 11th Pan-Mass Challenge ride. As I
have done for the last 11 years, I will ride across Massachusetts this August
to raise money for the Jimmy Fund in support of life-saving cancer research and
care at Boston’s renowned Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. As I have done for the
last five years, I will wear my blue and yellow team jersey on the second day
of the ride with my Team Kinetic Karma teammates. Each year, we ride for all of
those affected by cancer, as well as our young pedal partners. But this year,
we ride for Captain Dave.
Dave registered for his first Pan-Mass Challenge in 2002
upon learning of his mother’s fourth cancer diagnosis. She had beaten cancer
three times before, and Dave was confident that she would beat it again. Dave
and his family pursued numerous treatment options, some brand new and untested,
in the hope that she would conquer cancer a fourth time. Despite Dave’s valiant
efforts to find a treatment to save his mother, she passed away on the first
Friday in August that year. Dave somberly began his first Pan-Mass Challenge
the very next day.
In 2003, Dave formed Team Kinetic Karma, the team that I now
am on. He has grown the group over the years to become an eclectic second
family for its members. He celebrated with several teammates as the 2013 PMC
check was presented to Dana-Farber last November. Days later, he received a
terrifying diagnosis of his own. Stage 3 oropharyngeal (throat) cancer.
Dave’s doctors at
Dana-Farber – the very hospital he had raised over $140,000 for by riding the
PMC – prepared a course of treatment to destroy his cancer. The treatments
consisted of robotic surgery to cut out his tonsils and parts of his throat,
soft palate, and tongue to remove the cancer, followed by traditional surgery to remove 18 lymph nodes
in his neck. He then underwent six weeks of radiation therapy. Near the
beginning of his daily radiation treatments, Dave came over for dinner and we
caught up on things cancer-related and not. At the time, he had been jogging to
and from his appointments in an effort to stay healthy – and to retain a sense
of normalcy. By the end of his treatments, the cumulative effects of radiation
had him relegated to his bed and unable to eat much on his own.
Over a month has
passed since his last radiation treatment. Messages from Dave were mostly about
his lethargy and his frustration about losing weight and energy, and waiting
for that elusive light at the end of the tunnel, signaling a turning point in
his recovery.
Meanwhile, Team
Kinetic Karma started gearing up for the 2014 PMC – we held our first official
training ride of the season a few weeks ago. I went fully expecting to take a
group photo to send to Dave to cheer him up. As I pulled in, I noticed Dave’s
car. I first thought of how nice it was that he came to see us off. Then I saw
him dressed in his Team Kinetic Karma jersey. And bike shorts. And I thought,
maybe he will ride the first five miles or so (we had planned a 28-mile loop).
Dave rode the
entire 28-mile ride with us! And he looked strong! If Dave hadn’t seen that
light yet, he definitely pedaled toward it, and I think he may have found it
that day. I’m not a doctor (I don’t even play one on TV), but I can say that on that day, I saw a man who had conquered cancer. Dave’s journey has been
inspirational throughout, from diagnosis in November to surgery in December to
radiation in January and February to a 28-mile bike ride in April. I’ve never
been more inspired to ride the PMC.
At 41 riders, Team Kinetic Karma will field its largest
contingent ever for the 2014 PMC. I will be among them. So will Dave. I can’t
wait to approach the finish line in Provincetown, “champagne” toast in hand,
with my friend.
Please support my Pan-Mass Challenge ride in honor of Dave and all the other brave cancer fighters, and in memory of those that we have lost to cancer. 100% of your donation will go straight to the Jimmy Fund in support of the research and care that helped save Dave’s life and the lives of thousands of others. Dave is making his cancer history. Will you help make cancer, as we know it, history? Please make your donation today.
Please support my Pan-Mass Challenge ride in honor of Dave and all the other brave cancer fighters, and in memory of those that we have lost to cancer. 100% of your donation will go straight to the Jimmy Fund in support of the research and care that helped save Dave’s life and the lives of thousands of others. Dave is making his cancer history. Will you help make cancer, as we know it, history? Please make your donation today.
